The NFL Draft is one of the most prominent events of the year. While everyone is keen to see where these rookies land, how it affects the veterans is often overlooked. Today I will be breaking down 10 players who you should buy following the draft. This list includes mostly running backs, which tends to happen as the position is so fluid in the NFL and dynasty football.
1. D’Andre Swift
There’s no doubt that D’Andre Swift is one of the most polarizing running backs in fantasy football. After an electrifying first two years where Swift averaged 14.6 and 16.1 PPG, he was at the top of dynasty rankings. This past year, however, Swift struggled with injuries and never seemed to fit into the Lion’s scheme. After the draft, where Swift was dealt to the Philadelphia Eagles, I’m buying him at his RB19 price.
The team did sign Rashaad Penny this offseason, but this shouldn’t affect Swift very much. For one, Penny has never been able to stay healthy, and I’m not extremely optimistic that he will this year. On top of this, Swift gets his fantasy production from the passing game. Even better, when Swift does run the ball, he will have an elite offensive line blocking for him.
At his price point, I like buying Swift. Being treated as an RB2 is a fair price point. However, so many people are quick to forget how he was an RB1 just a few years ago. Swift is a very talented player, and you can buy him near his floor right now.
2. Cam Akers
Cam Akers has had a long fall since he was valued as the RB6 in 2021. Unfortunately, after a devastating Achilles injury, Akers is now the RB27. Many were hoping for a bounceback in 2022, but due to a slow start to the season, Akers ultimately ended up averaging 9.4 PPG.
Akers was a big winner of the NFL Draft, as the only running back the team selected was Zach Evans in the 6th round. Evans is a player with some buzz around him, but 6th Round draft capital means next to nothing.
Besides Evans, the current backup is Kyren Williams, a 5th-round pick in 2022 and a massive disappointment. Plus, it seems that Sean Mcvay is finally in good graces with Akers and trusts him as his RB1.
3. Isiah Pacheco
One of the biggest question marks leading up to the draft was what the Chiefs would do at the running back position. The team only had Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon on the roster coming into the draft, and that’s what they left with.
Pacheco was a good first and second down back for most of the season, but even after winning a super bowl, he didn’t have a guaranteed job. This is because he was a 7th-round pick in the 2022 draft. We’ve seen over and over that teams refuse to commit to these late-round running backs. With Pacheco looking to be the locked-in starter, he is an excellent buy if you need an RB2 this upcoming season.
4. Dameon Pierce
Dameon Pierce was a player with an immense amount of hype surrounding him going into the 2022 season. Despite being in a horrible offense, Pierce had a great rookie season averaging 12.8 PPG. Pierce racked up 939 yards on the ground and 30 receptions which is a great sign.
Like so many of these running backs on the list, his main concern was his 4th Round draft capital. The Texans did bring in Devin Singletary but only for $1.5 million dollars. The bigger concern was if the team would add a running back in the draft. They did not, which makes Pierce a massive winner. At his current value of RB17, if you need a running back, now is a safe time to buy Pierce.
5. Rachaad White
Rachaad White has been one of my biggest buys all off-season. With the release of Leonard Fournette, I was already high on White. Now that the Buccaneers brought in no additional help in the draft, I’m all in.
Conversely, White wasn’t the most efficient runner last year, averaging a meager 3.7 YPC. Where he excelled, though, was through the air. White caught 50 balls on 58 targets which is phenomenal. So even though this offense will be much worse, White should still take a step up with no Fournette.
Being valued as the RB23, this is a steal for White. This seems to be his floor now that he is the starter for the Buccaneers. If he can improve his running, his value will jump up significantly higher than this.
6. James Conner
James Conner may not be a buy for everyone, as he is already 28 years old, but he’s a solid pickup for a contending team. Based on his current value, it doesn’t seem like Conner is coming off a 15.4 PPG season.
Even though the Cardinals did get even worse with the Injury of Kyler Murray and the release of DeAndre Hopkins, they didn’t draft a single running back in the draft. I understand Conner is entering the historical age cliff, and I expect him to regress again this year.
With that said, he is currently the RB40 which is ridiculous. The Cardinals will feed Conner the ball with no other offensive weapons, which should make him a low-end RB2 to high-end RB3 at the minimum. With the surplus of opportunity, there’s a chance Conner becomes an outlier and can produce another RB1 season.
7. Alexander Mattison
Alexander Mattison is one of the more risky buys on this list but also one of my favorites. Two things need to happen this offseason for Mattison to be a league-winning running back.
One, the Vikings can’t draft a running back in the draft. The only running back the team took was DeWayne McBride in the 7th round. This means absolutely nothing and will have no impact on Mattison. More importantly, the team needs to release Dalvin Cook. Cook is 27 years old and is set to make over $10 million dollars this year. If the Vikings release him, they can save them over $9 million dollars.
In the past, Mattison has done nothing but find success when Cook has been injured. Almost every week where Mattison is the starter, he’s put up RB1 numbers. If he’s the lead back, I expect him to have an RB1 upside and become a potential league winner. All in all, as the RB29 on Keep Trade Cut (KTC), I’m buying him everywhere I can.
8. Tony Pollard
Leading up to the draft, there was an immense amount of hype around the Cowboys taking Bijan Robinson. Of course, the team already has Tony Pollard, but taking him at pick 26 would be an excellent value for the Cowboys.
Fortunately for Pollard, the Cowboys never even got the chance. Instead, Robinson went to the Falcons at pick 8. On top of this, the team cut Ezekiel Elliott, giving Pollard a clear path to a three-down workload. Elliott scored 12 touchdowns last season, which hurt Pollard a ton.
If you need a running back, now is a safe time to buy Pollard. At the RB13 price, Pollard is a very reasonable option if you’re looking for a mix of production and youth on your dynasty squad.
9. Rhamondre Stevenson
Rhamondre Stevenson is a player I’m not in love with but is beginning to get too much hate. One great argument against Stevenson is that the Patriots haven’t had the same running back lead the team in rushing yards for more than three seasons since Corey Dillon in 2006.
There was some fear that the Patriots would draft another running back to split time with Stevenson, but they didn’t take one at all. This should leave Stevenson with a three-down workload, as James Robinson is the only other notable running back on the roster.
On the flip side, Stevenson was great last year. Despite being in a mediocre Patriots offense, he still scored 14.7 PPG. Stevenson caught 69 passes on 88 targets last season, which is phenomenal. According to KTC, Stevenson is going as the RB12, which is a fair price point. After adding no other competition, I’m okay with buying Stevenson at this price.
10. Treylon Burks
To end this list, we have our one and only wide receiver, Treylon Burks. Just a year ago, Burks was one of the most hyped-up prospects in this 2022 draft class. Burks was the consensus 1.04, according to AdeLeagues, which put him ahead of guys like Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave.
Unfortunately, Burks did not have an ideal first season. He struggled with injuries all year, and the Titan’s offense was horrendous. Although many may not realize it, Burks was a big winner of the draft. The only skill players the team selected were Josh Whyle in the 5th round and Colton Dowell in the 7th. This will allow Burks to be the alpha wide receiver and hopefully take over that AJ Brown role.
On top of that, the team drafted Will Levis to replace Ryan Tannehill. Levis should get a shot to be the starting quarterback and can turn this team into a more pass-heavy offense, unlike Tannehill. With Derrick Henry likely fading out of this offense soon, the hope is that Burks will be Levis’s number-one target in a higher-volume passing offense.
Right now, Burks is the wide receiver 22 on KTC. After everything that went right for Burks, on top of the fact that he is an elite talent, I’m buying him everywhere.
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